Balochistan dismisses 72 more doctors for absence, total now 200

The Balochistan government has dismissed 72 more doctors from government service for prolonged absence from official duties. The Health Department announced the action on Saturday, saying it was taken under its AI-based attendance monitoring system.

According to the official notification, the dismissed doctors included medical officers and senior medical officers in BPS-17 and BPS-18 grades. The notification cited unauthorised absence as the reason, and the removals took effect immediately. The dismissals were made under Section 4(B)(viii) of the Balochistan Employees' Efficiency and Disciplinary Act, 2011.

With these dismissals, the total number of Health Department employees removed from service has reached 200. Daily Pakistan reported that Chief Minister Sarfraz Bugti announced the measures in a statement posted on X.

Health Department officials said Rs410 million has been deducted from employees' salaries over absenteeism. Daily Pakistan described the deductions as covering government employees for attendance and discipline violations.

The department has also issued notices to 11,000 employees, asking them to explain attendance and disciplinary violations. Departmental proceedings are under way against another 800 employees.

Health Minister Bakht Muhammad Kakar said the dismissed doctors had repeatedly received notices directing them to return to duty and had not responded. He said the government has zero tolerance for absenteeism and negligence among medical staff.

The department is working to improve access to healthcare facilities across the province. Reforms are being carried out on the instructions of Chief Minister Mir Sarfraz Bugti, and the provincial government is using AI-based monitoring to track attendance at hospitals and health centres.